13 November 2008
The region's moteliers are struggling with fewer guest nights during what is traditionally their busier months and are bracing themselves for an even tougher Christmas period.
Guest nights in the Waikato fell 9.8 per cent to 177,000 compared to a 5 per cent fall nationally, according to the latest Statistics New Zealand figures. Motels and backpackers across the country took the biggest hit by sector, down 9.2 per cent.
Gardena Motel owner Tony Wood said the decline was taking its toll as there had been a noticeable drop in the number of guests in Hamilton across the board.
"It's the combination of the difficult times and the price of petrol. I think also the election didn't help - leading up to the election there's always a lull for businesses."
Mr Wood did not expect an increase in the number of visitors to Hamilton over the next few months and said December and January were usually slow due to the city not attracting tourists during summer.
Traditionally, Hamilton accommodation owners relied on a busy October and November period to help them through Christmas, he said.
Roger Buller, owner of Hamilton's Bella Vista Motel and vice president of the Waikato Motel Association, said the prospect of motels being quieter over Christmas than at the moment was daunting for moteliers experiencing the downturn.
But the Waikato, which includes Coromandel and Taupo, was not alone. Nationally, guest nights fell for the fourth month in a row, with the Bay of Plenty falling 17 per cent year-on-year and Auckland down 3 per cent. Wellington and Southland were the only regions to increase their numbers, up 1 per cent.
Economic conditions around the world are affecting travellers' plans and Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said the accommodation sector was harder hit than other areas of the tourism industry.
As tourist numbers dropped and became more heavily weighted towards Australians, accommodation requirements fell as more nights with friends and family came into the mix.
Hotel Council chairwoman Jennie Langley said the downturn was not too shocking for hoteliers, who had been through it before, but key markets the United States, Britain and Europe were unlikely to rebound soon.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/4759856a6415.html
